Bill Santiago

He became a standup after narrowly escaping a career in journalism, facing the fact that as a comedian he was funny, but as a reporter he was a joke.

It’s been said he was born to Puerto Rican immigrants, which is technically untrue, as Puerto Ricans are US citizens, although he’s got an uncle who was once deported to the Bronx.

More often than not, people say nice things about his act. "Santiago proved political satire is alive in America," noted a San Francisco Chronicle theater critic. Or as one NYC club owner put it, "A Hispanic who uses big words.  I love it!"

As far as television, he was a big hit on Comedy Central's "Premium Blend," seen by everyone but his mother, who apparently taped the wrong show.

Through the miracle of arts grants - money to stay home and come up with something hilarious that may or may not have an intermission - Santiago has entered the world of solo performance, currently developing and touring his show, "Spanglish 101."  Admittedly, he used some of the grant money to buy a pair of shoes he wanted very much.  They were on sale though.

For the record, he did go to college, studying film at NYU, then realizing he preferred to call them movies.  It was much earlier on in grade-school, however, that he first showed signs of a budding comedian, stumping his teachers with questions like, “Why isn’t phonetic spelled with an ‘F’?”

Today he charms audiences across the country with his quick, cogent style, and it doesn't hurt to be beautiful.

When not on stage, he enjoys curling up with a good book or a well-read woman.